£260,000 Montgomery Canal towpath project completed

The Montgomery Canal restoration came under the spotlight at a celebration to mark the completion of a £260,000 towpath improvement project, near Llanymynech, in Powys.

A new all-weather surface means walkers, cyclists, anglers and canoeists will now be able to use the mile-long section between Four Crosses and Carreghofa, just south of the town of Llanymynech, whatever the weather. Several new canoe access points have also been created.

Over £1 million has already been invested in transforming a 14 mile section of the towpath between Newtown and Welshpool. This is the seventh section of towpath to be upgraded and is being carried out by Glandŵr Cymru - the Canal & River Trust in Wales, in partnership with Powys County Council, with funding from the Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund for 2013/14.

Russell George, Welsh Assembly member for Montgomeryshire; John Dodwell, Montgomery Canal Partnership chairman and Trustee of the Canal & River Trust; and Brenda Harvey, who chairs the Trust’s local waterway partnership, cut a ribbon on Friday 5th June to mark the opening of the new section of towpath at Four Crosses.

Vyrnwy Aqueduct

This was followed by a walk along the canal to Vyrnwy Aqueduct, lunch and presentations and exhibitions giving an update on the Montgomery Canal restoration progress at Llanymynech village hall.

Brenda Harvey said: “We are delighted that another step along the path to the full restoration of the Montgomery Canal has been completed. This section of towpath is popular with both visitors and the local community and we are pleased they can now enjoy this beautiful peaceful waterway in all weathers.”

Welsh Government Transport Minister Edwina Hart said: “This latest new section will provide a safe, pleasant route for people to walk and cycle to Welshpool and Llanymynech. The Welsh Government is committed to making it easier for people to enjoy the benefits of walking and cycling through the introduction of the Active Travel (Wales) Act and investment in local transport schemes.”